In Conversation

• Richard Tognetti AO: Making waves

  Under Richard Tognetti’s leadership, the Australian Chamber Orchestra has come to be regarded as one of the world’s finest ensembles. In this wide-ranging and candid conversation, Richard reflects on 35 years at the helm, as well as his international orchestral appearances as director or soloist. Equally at home on the period, modern and electric violins, he has also created dozens of arrangements and compositions, including for several films, and claimed six ARIA Awards.From a Wollongong childhood, Richard traces a journey defined by fierce independence and a passion for blurring musical boundaries - qualities that have shaped the ACO’s distinctive sound. He speaks compellingly of the importance of music education, sharing moving stories of his personal encounters through the ACO’s outreach, and takes pride in the orchestra’s new home at Pier 2/3 in Walsh Bay - a place to share and experience music.Personal and insightful, this conversation illuminates the energy, intellect and uncompromising spirit of one of Australia’s most influential musicians.Richard Tognetti directs the Australian Chamber Orchestra for Cocteau’s Circle around Australia until November 22. Subscriptions for the ACO’s 2026 season are now available.

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• Steven Kramer: A musician who stops the nation

  A music director, pianist, composer, producer and cabaret performer, Steven Kramer has worked on a diverse array of musicals, from Little Shop of Horrors to Calamity Jane and from Assassins to Rent, winning the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Musical Director for Jekyll & Hyde. He’s played piano with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Kate Ceberano, and for productions of The Sound of Music and Frozen. With all that musical theatre experience under his belt, it’s little wonder that he has written his first musical based on the story of Australia’s most famous racing horse – Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical.Steven takes us through the inspiration for the musical and we take a deep dive into what it takes to get a project from idea to the stage. We hear about the key moments of his career, including his collaboration with Courtney Act for the Sydney World Pride concert. He reflects on lessons learned from theatre and cabaret, the importance of creative risk-taking, and why musical theatre should always embrace its sense of fun, heart, and a little absurdity.Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical, with music, book and lyrics by Steven Kramer, plays at The Hayes Theatre until November 22.

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• Daniel Müller-Schott: View from a cello

  One of the world’s most sought-after cellists, Daniel Müller-Schott performs on all the international concert stages, whether it’s with the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, or the Gewandhaus Orchestra. He’s worked with the world’s greatest conductors, including Neeme Järvi, Andris Nelsons and Simone Young, and recorded over 30 albums for a diverse array of labels. He also enjoys combining the art of music with the visual arts and literature. In this conversation, Daniel recounts the impact of winning the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at age 15, a milestone that launched his professional career. He speaks warmly of his mentors, including Anne-Sophie Mutter, Steven Isserlis, and Mstislav Rostropovich, who taught him the expressive and human dimensions of music. Beyond the concert stage, we hear about Daniel’s interest in blending classical music with other art forms such as painting, dance, and film. Through his festival in Switzerland, he creates performances that invite audiences to experience music in fresh, multidimensional ways. He also reflects on the bond he shares with his centuries-old cello, his evolving creative process, and the importance of finding inspiration in art, travel, and everyday life.Daniel Müller-Schott performs with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra from 22-25 October, before heading to Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart and parts of New Zealand throughout November.

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• Cathy-Di Zhang: A requiem for life

  Award-winning Australian soprano Cathy-Di Zhang has performed extensively with Opera Australia as well as for Victorian Opera and the State Opera of South Australia. She has sung with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Perth Symphonic Chorus and as a soloist with orchestras and chamber groups throughout Europe and Asia.In this conversation, Cathy-Di reflects on her somewhat unconventional journey to the profession, and opens up about navigating life as an artist. From lockdowns and love stories, to rediscovering her voice back home in Australia, she shares her delight in pushing artistic boundaries through projects like Opera Up Late and The Butterfly Lovers, and her belief that music should always have soul, playfulness, and heart.Cathy-Di Zhang joins the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for Brahms’s A German Requiem at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, October 25.

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• Peter Phillips: A Tallis scholar

  The “Rock stars of Renaissance music” is how The New York Times described the award winning British vocal ensemble The Tallis Scholars. Founder and artistic director Peter Phillips has devoted his life to creating the ideal choral sound, and exploring many neglected gaps in the polyphonic repertoire. He’s also commissioned many contemporary composers including Eric Whitacre, John Tavener and Nico Muhly. On top of all that, he’s written columns for newspapers and magazines, presented radio lectures, and even written a novel.In this conversation, Peter discusses how his fascination with vocal harmony began in his school days, developed at Oxford, and eventually led to the formation of The Tallis Scholars in 1973, an ensemble that would become synonymous with the purity and precision of Renaissance choral music. He shares insights into the challenges of interpreting centuries-old music, from deciphering incomplete manuscripts to navigating lost performance traditions, and how the group strives to make these works vivid for modern audiences. Warm and deeply insightful, Peter reveals the passion, intellect, and humour that have sustained his remarkable career in music.The Tallis Scholars, under founder and artistic director Peter Phillips, perform at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday, 12 October. They will also be performing at the Adelaide Town Hall on Thursday, 9 October, and at the QPAC Concert Hall on Friday, 10 October. Performances in Canberra and Melbourne had already occurred at the time of publication of this program.

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